Disconnecting switch having improved operating mechanism

ABSTRACT

An electric switch comprising a plurality of switch units mounted on a supporting frame and actuated between open and closed positions by a common drive means which is operatively connected to said plurality of switch units or pole units.

United States atent Edmund W. Kuhn Pittsburgh;

Samuel J. Parsons, Irwin, both of, Pa. 796,719

Feb. 5, 1969 June 29, 1971 Westinghouse Electric Corporation Pittsburgh,Pa.

[72] inventors [2i Appl. No. [22] Filed [4S] Patented [73] Assignee [54]DISCONNECTING SWITCH HAVING IMPROVED OPERATING MECHANISM 7 Claims, 5Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 200/48, 287/5202 [5i] lnt.Cl ..H0lb3l/00 [50] Field ofSearch ZOO/ 48; 287/5202, 52.03, 53 S [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,710.897 6/1955 Lindell 200/48 X 2,857,l87 10/1958Comery et aL, 287/52102 Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer AssistantExaminerA. J. Hohauser A!l0rneysA. T. Stratton and Clement L. McHaleABSTRACT: An electric switch comprising a plurality of switch unitsmounted on a supporting frame and actuated between open and closedpositions by a common drive means which is operatively connected to saidplurality of switch units or pole units.

PATENTED JUNZEHQYI SHEET 1 0F 2 PATENIED JUN29 [9n sum 2 0; 2

INVENTORS Edmund W. Kuhn and muel J. Persons c736 We Afp- BY M ATTORNEYBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to electric switchesincluding a plurality of switch or pole units and more particularly tomeans for actuating the operation of a plurality ofswitch units by acommon drive means.

In certaintypes of polyphase, outdoor high-voltage disconnectingswitches, a pluralityof switch units or pole units is mounted on asupporting framework with each switch unit having an insulator stackwhich is mounted on a rotatable shaft. In order to gang operate aplurality of switch units, levers are mounted on the shafts of therespective switch units and operatively connected by tie rods. A commondrive means for a plurality of switch units may then be operativelyconnected to the shaft of one of the associated switch units and theplurality of switch units maybe gang or simultaneously operated by acommon drivemeans through the associated levers and tie rods. For properoperation of a plurality of switch units such as described, the leversof the respective switch units must be initially assembled or mounted onthe associated shafts in predetermined angular positions, such, for

example as to be substantially parallel with respect to each other or atsubstantially the same angular positions with respect to the associatedshafts and must remain so during long periods of operation in servicewithout shifting or changing positions on the associated shafts.

Disconnecting switch constructions of the type described are illustratedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,669,614, 2,669,622 and 2,748,213 which are allassigned to the same assignee as the present application. Known switchconstructions of the above type have been found to have certaindisadvantages in that they either do not readily permit the levers ofthe different switch units which are to be gang operated to be initiallypositioned precisely with respect to one another or else the levers maytend to shift in position with respect to one another after being placedin service. It is therefore desirable to provide an improved switchconstruction of the type described which will overcome thelast-mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, adisconnecting switch having a plurality of switch units or pole units ismounted on a supporting frame with the switch units in side-by-sidespaced relation. Each of the switch units includes an insulator stackmounted upon a rotatable shaft having a portion with a plurality ofteeth disposed substantially around its periphery. In order to permit aplurality of switch units to be actuated between operating positions bya common drive means which is operatively connected to the shaft of oneof the switch units, a lever is disposed on the shaft of each switchunit and includes a generally smooth, arcuate portion which bearsagainst or engages only a portion of the teeth on the associated shaft.A clamping member is also disposed on the shaft of each switch unit andhas a generally arcuate portion with a plurality of teeth which engage aportion of the teeth on the associated shaft. In order to secure eachlever and the associated clamping member together on the shaft of eachswitch unit, a pair of fastening means, more specifically a pair of boltand nut assemblies, is disposed on the opposite sides of said shaft withthe fastening means engaging or bearing against substantially flat,planar surfaces provided on both said lever and the associated clampingmember. The levers of the respective switch units are then operativelyconnected by tie rods which extend laterally between the switch units.The forces required to actuate the different switch units in a gangoperation are then transmitted from a common drive means which isoperatively connected to the shaft of one of the switch units throughthe respective levers and associated tie rods.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a switchconstruction including improved means for operativelycom necting aplurality of switch units which are to be actuated by a common drivemeans;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects of the invention will beapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial top plan view of a switch structure embodying theprincipal features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial view, in front elevation, of the structure shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view, in section, taken along the lineIII-Ill in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial view, in side elevation, taken along theline IV-IV in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view, partly in section and partlycutaway, taken along the line V-V in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawingsand FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular, the switch structure 10 shown thereincomprises three disconnecting switch or pole units 20 which are mountedside by side upon a supporting framework 40 in substantially equallyspaced relation. Each of the disconnecting switch units 20 may be of thetype which is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,079,474 whichissued Feb. 26, 1963 to E. F. Beach et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,905which issued July 13, 1965 to F. W. Jewell et al. and in copendingapplication, Ser. No. 772,715 filed Nov. 1, 1968 and issued Mar. 10,1970 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,500,006, which are all assigned to the sameassignee as this application.

As best shown in FIG. I, each switch unit 20 comprises three spacedinsulator stacks 24, 26 and 28 which are mounted upon a common base 22.The base 22 may be in the form of a metal channel member which issecured to the supporting framework 40 and which may have angle memberssecured to the sides of the channel member. Each of the insulator stacks24, 26 and 28 of each of the switch units 20 comprises a plurality ofinsulators which are preferably composed of porcelain or some similarelectrically insulating material. It will be understood that the numberof insulators required in each stack depends upon the voltage of thesystem in which the switch structure 10 is utilized. The insulatorsstacks 26 and 28 of each switch unit 20, as illustrated, are mountedupon fixed pedestals not shown) which may be secured to the top of thebase 22. The insulator stack 24 of each of the switch units 20 ismounted upon a shaft 25 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing assembly23 which is secured to the base 22.

As described in detail in the above-mentioned patents and application,each of the switch units 20 includes a disconnecting switch blade 19which may be actuated into and out of engagement with an associatedstationary contact assembly 21 by rotating the associated insulatorstack 24 which is operatively connected to the switch blade 19 through acrank arm 15 and a link member 17. In order to permit the simultaneousor gang operation of the switch units 20, the insulator stacks 24 of theswitch units 20 are operatively connected together by the tie rods 42which are pivotally connected to the lever arms 27 which are mounted onthe respective shafts 25, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

In order to actuate the gang operation of the switch units 20, a commondrive means 30 is operatively connected to the shaft 25 of one of theswitch units 20. As illustrated, the manual drive means 30 includes alever arm 47 which is mounted on the shaft 25 of the switch unit 20 atthe right of the switch structure 10, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thelever arm 47 is operatively connected to the crank arm 137 by theoperating rod 52 which is pivotally connected at one end to the leverarm 47 by the pivot pin 139 through the clevis member 54 and which ispivotally connected at the other end to the crank arm I37 by the pivotpin 13$. The crank arm H37, in turn, is mounted on an operating shaft132 for rotation therewith. The upper end of the shaft R32 is rotatablysupported by an outboard bearing assembly M4 which, in turn, issupported on the framework db. T he lower end of the shaft 132 iscoupled to a handcrank 146 through a suitable gearbox 142. It is to beunderstood that, where desired, the common drive means which actuatesthe operation of the switch units may include an electric or other drivemotor rather than being of the manual type,as illustrated.

It is to be noted that for proper simultaneous or gang operation of theswitch units 2i by the common drive means 30 to thereby obtain a desiredsynchronized or sequential operation of the switch units 20 duringopening and closing operations, the levers 27 which are operativelyconnected by the tie rods 42 must be disposed at predetermined angularpositions with respect to the associated shafts on which said levers aredisposed for rotation therewith. As illustrated, if it is desired thatall three of the switch units 20 should open and close simultaneously,the levers 27 must be disposed substantially parallel with respect toone another at all times during opening and closing operations or thelevers 27 must be simultaneously disposed at substantially the sameangular positions with respect to the associated shafts 25. In otherwords, it is essential that all of the levers 27 may be initiallypositioned or assembled on the associated shafts 25 and that the levers27 remain at said predetermined angular positions during long periods ofservice without shifting or changing position with respect to oneanother or with respect to the associated shafts 25 on which said leversare disposed.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the shafts 25 on which therotatable insulator stacks 24 of the switch units 20 are mountedincludes a portion as indicated at 25B in FIG. 41 having a plurality ofteeth 25A which are disposed substantially around the periphery of theshaft 25. The lever arm 47 which is operatively connected to the commondrive means 30 by the operating rod 52 includes a generally arcuateportion 47A at one end having a plurality of teeth 473 which engage onlya portion of the teeth on the associated shaft 25 when the lever arm 47is assembled on the shaft 25. In order to secure the lever arm 47 to theshaft 25 for rotation therewith, a clamping member 49 is disposed on theshaft 25 opposite the end of the lever arm 47 which includes the arcuateportion 47A. The clamping member d9 also includes a generally arcuateportion 49A having a plurality of teeth 49B which also engage only aportion of the teeth on the shaft 25. In order to secure the lever arm47 and the clamping member d9 together on the associated shaft 25, asbest shown in FIG. 3, a pair of fastening means, more specifically apair of bolts I82 are disposed on opposite sides of the shaft 25 andpass through corresponding openings provided in the clamping member 49and the lever arm 47. It is to be noted that the heads of the bolts 182bear against substantially flat planar surfaces provided on the clampingmember 49 through associated lockwashers and that the associated nuts1183 which are disposed on the opposite ends of the bolts I22 bearagainst substantially flat, planar surfaces provided on the lever arm47. Since both the lever arm 37 and the associated clamping member 49include a plurality of teeth which engage different portions of theteeth provided on the shaft 25, it is important to note that the angularposition of the lever arm 47 with respect to the shaft 25 may beadjusted in angular steps which correspond to the angular positions ofthe teeth 25A which are provided on the shaft 25. It is also importantto note that once the lever arm 47 and the associated clamping member 39are assembled on the associated shaft 25, the angular position of thelever arm 47 with respect to the shaft 25 will remain at the sameangular position due to the engagement of the teeth on the lever arm 47with those on the shaft 25 and the engagement of the teeth on theclamping member 59 with those on the shaft 25 which will substantiallyprevent any relative movement of the lever arm 47 and the clampingmember 49 with respect to the shaft 25.

As previously mentioned, the operating rod 52 operatively connects thelever arm 47 to the common drive means Slil. More specifically, a clevismember 54 may be provided which includes a pair of spaced arms havingsubstantially aligned openings through which the pivot pin 139 passeswith the outer end of the lever arm 47 being disposed between the armsof the clevis member 54 and including an opening through which the pivotpin 139 also passes as shown in H65. 3 and 4. Suitable means, such as apair of cotter pins (not shown) may be disposed at the opposite ends ofthe pivot pin 139 to retain the assembled parts together. The clevismember 54 also includes a slotted tubular portion which is adapted toreceive one end of the operating rod 52. The latter end of the rod 52may then be clamped to the clevis member 54 by tightening one or moreclamping bolts 55 which draw the parts of the clevis member 54 togetheraround the associated end of the operating rod 52. The other end of theoperating rod 52 may be also secured to a similar clevis member which ispivotally connected to the crank arm 137 by a pivot pin 13%}.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the levers 27 includes agenerally smooth, arcuate portion 27A which partially encircles theassociated shaft 25 and is engaged by only a portion of the teeth 25A onthe associated shaft 25, as best shown in FIG. 5. In order to secureeach of the lovers 27 to the associated shaft 25 as shown in FIG. 5, aclamping member 29 is disposed on the shaft 25 opposite the end of theassociated lever 27 which includes the arcuate portion 278. The clampingmember 29 includes a generally arcuate portion 29A having a plurality ofteeth 291) which engage only a portion of the teeth 25A on theassociated shaft 25 when the parts are assembled as shown in FIG. 5. Inorder to secure the lever 27 ofeach of the switch units 20 and theassociated clamping member 29 together on the associated shaft 25, apair of fastening means, more specifically a pair of bolts 32 aredisposed on opposite sides of the associated shaft 25 as shown in FIG.5. The bolts 82 pass through corresponding openings provided in thelever 27 and the associated clamping member 29 with the heads of thebolts 82 bearing against a pair of spaced, substantially flat planarsurfaces 29B and 29C through the associated lockwashers. The nuts 84which are disposed on the ends of the bolts 32 away from the headsthereof also bear against a pair of spaced, substantially flat, planarsurfaces 27 B provided on the lever 27.

In the assembly of the levers 27 on the associated shafts 25, it isimportant to note that since the arcuate portion 27A of each of thelevers 27 is generally smooth, each of the levers 27 may be preciselypositioned at any angular position desired with respect to theassociated shaft 25 since the arcuate portion 27A of the lever 27 doesnot include any teeth which will engage those provided on the shaft 25.After the lever 27 of each of the switch units 2th is preciselypositioned at the desired angular position with respect to theassociated shaft 25, the associated clamping member 29 and the bolts 82may be then assembled and tightened to secure each of the levers 27 toits associated shaft 25. It is to be noted that when the bolts 82 andthe associated nuts 84 are tightened in their assembled positions asshown in FIG. 5, the teeth 25A provided on the shaft 25 will tend toengage or bear against the arcuate portion 27A and substantially preventany shifting of positions of the levers 27 on the associated shafts 25.

it is to be noted that since the position of the clamping member 29associated with each of the levers 27 can only be shifted in angularsteps which correspond to the positions of the teeth 25A on the shaft25, the bolts 82 may be mechanically stressed or even slightly bent wheneach of the levers 27 is secured to the associated shaft as shown inFIG. 5. In other words, depending upon the relative positions of eachlever 27 and its associated clamping member 29 when assembled in aparticular angular position with respect to the associated shaft 25, thepair of associated bolts 82 are mechanically stressed when the nuts 84on said bolts are tightened down against the substantially flat planarsurfaces provided on the lever 87 and the heads of the bolts 82 bearagainst the substantially flat planar surfaces provided on the clampingmember 29. The

stressing of the bolts 82 is assisted by the substantially flat planarsurfaces provided on each of the levers 27 and its associated clampingmember 29 and the bolts 82 are preferably formed from a material havingsufficient structural strength to withstand such stresses, such assteel. it has been found that the construction of the levers 27 and theassociated clamping members 29 as shown in FIG. 5 results in asubstantially rigid connection of the levers 27 to the associated shafts25 and that the levers 27 will remain in substantially the same angularpositions as those in which they are originally or initially assembledon the shafts 25 without shifting in relative position with respect tothe shafts 25 during long periods of service.

As illustrated the construction of the levers 27 and the associatedclamping members 29 permits the assembly of the levers 27 as illustratedin substantially predetermined angular positions with respect to theassociated shafts which may be substantially parallel, as illustrated,with each of the levers 27 being disposed at substantially the sameangular position with respect to the associated shafts 25. it is to beunderstood that the levers 27 in particular applications may bepositioned in different angular positions with respect to one anotherwhere a different sequence of operation is desired for the associatedswitch units 20.

It is to be noted that the tie rods 42 may be pivotally connected to theassociated levers 27 by means of one or a pair of clevis memberssimilarly to the manner in which the lever arm 47 is connected to theoperating rod 52 by the .clevis member 54. More specifically, as shownin H68. 3 and 4, the clevis member 34 includes a pair of spaced armswhich are disposed on opposite sides of the outer end of the lever 27and includes a pair of substantially aligned openings through which theassociated pivot pin 62 passes with the lever 27 also including anopening at its outer end through which the pivot pin 62 passes. Theclevis member 34 may also include a slotted tubular portion which isadapted to receive one end of one of the associated tie rods 42 and-maybe clamped thereto by one or more suitable clamping bolts 35 which drawthe slotted parts of the clevis member 34 toward one another asindicated in FIG. 3.

In the operation of the switch structure as described, when the leverarm 47 is rotated by the common drive means 30, all of the levers 27 aresimultaneously rotated by the torques which are transmitted from theshaft 25 at the right end of the switch structure 10 through thedifferent levers 27 and the associated tie rods 42 to therebysimultaneously actuate the switch units between open and closedoperating positions.

As previously explained, the switch units 20 which are included in theswitch structure 10 are illustrated as being of the type in which all ofthe switch units simultaneously open and close together with the levers27 of the different switch units remaining at all times during openingand closing movements in substantially the same corresponding angularpositions with respect to the associated shafts 25. It is to beunderstood that the teachings of the invention may also be applied toswitch structures in which the different switch units may operate insequence or in synchronism as determined by the relative angularpositions of the different levers which correspond to the levers 27 ofthe disclosed switch structure. In other words, a switch structure asdisclosed may include a plurality of levers corresponding to the levers27 which are disposed at different angular positions with respect to theassociated shafts in order to actuate the different switch units in apredetermined operating sequence. In addition, it is to be noted that incertain applications the shaft may be of the axially fluted type ratherthan having a portion with a plurality of teeth substantially around itsperiphery as disclosed.

The apparatus embodying the teachings of this invention has severaladvantages. For example, a switch structure as disclosed readily lendsitself to assembly with the levers 27 of the different switch unitsbeing adjustable to precisely a predetermined angular position withrespect to the different shafts 25 of the switch units 20. Asillustrated, the levers 27 of the switch units may be initiallyassembled to be substantially parallel or at substantially the sameangular positions with respect to the associated shafts and will remainsubstantially parallel or at the same angular positions during longperiods of continuous service due to the clamping action which isprovided by the construction of the levers 27 and the associatedclamping members 29 as disclosed. In other words, the disclosed switchstructure readily lends itself to a positioning of the different levers27 at substantially predetermined angular positions with respect to theassociated shafts which will be maintained during long periods ofservice by the clamping action which is exerted on the levers 27 by thedisclosed construction. it is to be noted that the construction of thelevers 27 and the associated clamping members readily lends itself to acombination with an associated lever arm such as the lever arm 47 whoseangular position is not as critical as that of the different levers 27since it is not necessary for the lever arm 47 to track or move insynchronism with corresponding lever arms in the other switch units ofthe overall switch structure it). In addition, the applicantsconstruction has the advantage that while permitting a precisepositioning of the levers 27, the levers 27 are prevented from shiftingor changing relative positions with respect to the associated shafts 25after being installed or with respect to each other during long periodsof service of the overall switch structure 10.

Since numerous changes may be made in the above described apparatus anddifferent embodiments of the invention may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all the mattercontained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

We claim as our invention:

l. A switch structure comprising a supporting frame, a plurality ofswitch units mounted on said frame in side-by-side spaced relation, eachof said switch units having a plurality of spaced insulators mounted ona common base, one of the insulators of each switch unit being mountedon a shaft which is rotatable to actuate said switch unit betweenoperating positions, said shaft of each switch unit including a portionhaving a plurality of teeth disposed substantially around its periphery,a lever disposed on the shaft of each switch unit in a predeterminedangular position with respect to said shaft and having a generallysmooth arcuate portion at one end corresponding in curvature to saidshaft and which bears against the tips of the teeth on said shaftopposed to said arcuate portion, a clamping member disposed on the shaftof each switch unit opposite the arcuate portion at said one end of saidlever and having a generally arcuate portion corresponding in curvatureto said shaft and having a plurality of teeth which mesh with only aportion of the teeth on said shaft, a pair of adjustable fastening meansspaced apart and disposed, respectively, on opposite sides of the shaftof each switch unit for securing opposite adjacent ends of the arcuateportions of said lever and said clamping member together on theassociated shaft, said lever and said clamping member of each switchunit each including substantially fiat, planar surfaces which areengaged by the associated pair of fastening means, and tie rodsconnecting the levers of said plurality of switch units.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein a common drive means isconnected to the shaft of one of the switch units for simultaneouslyrotating the rotatable insulators of said plurality of switch unitsbetween positions corresponding to the operating positions of saidswitch units.

3. The combination as claimed in claim ll wherein said pair of fasteningmeans comprises a pair of bolts having nuts disposed thereon.

-3. The combination as claimed in claim l wherein the shafts of saidplurality of said switch units are disposed substantially parallel toone another and the associated levers of said plurality of switch unitsare disposed subs antially parallel to one another in all operatingpositions of said levers.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lever of each ofsaid switch units and its associated clamping 7. The combination asclaimed in claim 2 wherein the shafts of said plurality of switch unitsare disposed substantially parallel to one another and the associatedlevers of said plurality of switch units are disposed substantiallyparallel to one another in all operating positions of said levers, andthe plurality of teeth on said shaft is disposed parallel to the axis ofsaid shaft.

1. A switch structure comprising a supporting frame, a plurality ofswitch units mounted on said frame in side-by-side spaced relation, eachof said switch units having a plurality of spaced insuLators mounted ona common base, one of the insulators of each switch unit being mountedon a shaft which is rotatable to actuate said switch unit betweenoperating positions, said shaft of each switch unit including a portionhaving a plurality of teeth disposed substantially around its periphery,a lever disposed on the shaft of each switch unit in a predeterminedangular position with respect to said shaft and having a generallysmooth arcuate portion at one end corresponding in curvature to saidshaft and which bears against the tips of the teeth on said shaftopposed to said arcuate portion, a clamping member disposed on the shaftof each switch unit opposite the arcuate portion at said one end of saidlever and having a generally arcuate portion corresponding in curvatureto said shaft and having a plurality of teeth which mesh with only aportion of the teeth on said shaft, a pair of adjustable fastening meansspaced apart and disposed, respectively, on opposite sides of the shaftof each switch unit for securing opposite adjacent ends of the arcuateportions of said lever and said clamping member together on theassociated shaft, said lever and said clamping member of each switchunit each including substantially flat, planar surfaces which areengaged by the associated pair of fastening means, and tie rodsconnecting the levers of said plurality of switch units.
 2. Thecombination as claimed in claim 1 wherein a common drive means isconnected to the shaft of one of the switch units for simultaneouslyrotating the rotatable insulators of said plurality of switch unitsbetween positions corresponding to the operating positions of saidswitch units.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pairof fastening means comprises a pair of bolts having nuts disposedthereon.
 4. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shafts ofsaid plurality of said switch units are disposed substantially parallelto one another and the associated levers of said plurality of switchunits are disposed substantially parallel to one another in alloperating positions of said levers.
 5. The combination as claimed inclaim 1 wherein the lever of each of said switch units and itsassociated clamping member both include a pair of spaced openingsthrough which the associated pair of fastening means passes, and theplurality of teeth on said shaft is disposed parallel to the axis ofsaid shaft.
 6. The combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein the leverof each of said switch units and its associated clamping member bothinclude a pair of spaced openings through which the associated pair offastening means passes.
 7. The combination as claimed in claim 2 whereinthe shafts of said plurality of switch units are disposed substantiallyparallel to one another and the associated levers of said plurality ofswitch units are disposed substantially parallel to one another in alloperating positions of said levers, and the plurality of teeth on saidshaft is disposed parallel to the axis of said shaft.